Testicular mixed germ cell tumor presenting with seizure as the initial symptom: a case report and literature review

Abstract Most patients with testicular germ cell tumor present with a painless scrotal mass. We report a 19-year-old patient who presented with neurological complains. Rapid clinical progression to coma was noted during the staging work up. A diagnosis of testicular mixed germ cell tumor with multiorgan metastasis (lymph node, lung, liver and brain) was made. Patients with brain metastasis should receive chemotherapy alone or combined with surgery or radiotherapy. Because the clinical symptoms deteriorated quickly, surgery was used upfront followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy for the brain tumor. After the first stage of treatment, the clinical symptoms, tumor markers and imaging findings were improved. The residual brain tumor was eliminated by chemotherapy, and only sparse degenerated tumor cells were noted in the brain tissue. Longer follow up is required to assess the impact of our treatment strategy.

Trombocitopenia severa como manifestación de un tumor testicular de células germinales con metástasis cardíaca intracavitaria / Testicular tumor with intracardiac metastasis presenting as severe thrombocytopenia

Se describe el caso de un hombre de 24 años que se presenta con Púrpura trombocitopénico, cuyo estudio ecocardiográfico y tomografía computada demostró masa tumoral ocupando las cavidades derechas. Se evidenció posteriormente un tumor testicular izquierdo con componentes de seminoma y teratoma. Se resecó el tumor testicular y posteriormente el tumor intracardíaco, con normalización del recuento plaquetario.

A 24 year old man presented with severe thrombocytopenia. An intracardiac mass was shown to be a metastasis from a malignant testicular tumor. Resection of the primary tumor and the intracardiac metastasis led to full recovery of thrombocytopenia.

During twenty years of Cisplatin-based therapy the face of nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors is still changing: an evaluation of presentation, management, predictive factors and survival

Purpose: To assess the changing presentation and treatment of nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors (NSGCT) and to investigate predictive factors for the status of metastasis at diagnosis and on relapse and death. Materials and Methods: Retrospective record review of 147 patients that underwent inguinal orchiectomy from 1987-2007. Follow-up data was available for 102 patients (median follow-up: 80 months (0-243); 96 patients alive). Results: Mean patients age increased (p = 0.015) and more patients were diagnosed in clinical stage I (CSI) (p = 0.040). The fraction of yolk sac (YS) elements inclined (p = 0.030) and pT2 tumors increased (p < 0.001). Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) declined whereas more patients were treated with chemotherapy (p < 0.001; p = 0.004). There was an increase in relapse free (RFS) and cancer specific survival (CSS) due to an improvement in patients with disseminated disease (p = 0.014; p < 0.001). The presence of YS and teratoma elements showed a reduction in the odds ratio (OR) for metastasis at diagnosis (p = 0.002, OR: 0.262; p = 0.009, OR: 0.428) whereas higher pT-stage was associated to their presence (p = 0.039). Patients with disseminated disease (CS > I) showed a declined CSS compared to CSI patients (p = 0.055). The presence of YS elements was associated to an improved RFS (p = 0.038). Conclusions: In our single institution study the face of NSGCT markedly changed over 20 years even after the introduction of Cisplatin-based chemotherapy. These changes were accompanied by an improvement in RFS and CSS. When dealing with NSGCT patients such observations now and in the future should be taken into account. .

Acute respiratory distress syndrome in poor prognostic germ cell tumor with multiple lung metastases: a case report

We report a case which is unique as this patient was diagnosed pathologically as adenocarcinoma of the endometrium but clinically progressed as germ cell tumor. This was evident by progressive and rapid raised tumor markers [BHCG and LDH] with the development of multiple bilateral lung metastases. She was treated by administrating low doses of systemic combination chemotherapy as per the literature. Unfortunately, she developed acute respiratory distress syndrome as the complication of treatment and died due to it

Linfadenectomía lumboaórtica laparoscópica para cáncer testicular no seminomatoso estadio clínico I / Laparoscopic lumbo-aortic lymph-node dissection in clinical stage i non-seminomatous testicular germ-cell tumors

Reportar la morbilidad y resultados oncológicos de la Linfadenectomía Lumboaórtica por vía laparoscópica (LLA lap) en pacientes portadores de tumor de células germinales no seminomatoso (TCGNS) estadio I, operados en el Hospital Ramón Barros Luco Trudeau. Pacientes y Métodos: Entre octubre de 2005 y agosto de 2008, 29 pacientes con TCGNS estadio I, fueron sometidos a LLA lap. No se realizó selección de pacientes en relación a los hallazgos anatomopatológicos o a la presencia de factores de riesgo. La Linfadenectomía retroperitoneal fue realizada por el mismo cirujano, respetando los límites descritos por Weissbach y Boedefeld. Resultados: De los 29 pacientes operados, el procedimiento fue completado en su totalidad por vía laparoscópica. La pérdida sanguínea promedio fue de 27,7 cc (5–250). No fue necesaria tranfusión sanguínea. El tiempo operatorio promedio fue de 170 min (150–240). El número de ganglios resecados promedio fue de 12,8 (4–25). El tiempo de hospitalización fue de 2 días. Se registró una complicación vascular intraoperatoria, que se manejo satisfactoriamente sin necesidad de conversión. Se preservó la eyaculación anterograda en la totalidad de los pacientes. Cuatro pacientes (13,8 por ciento) tuvieron estadio patológico IIa y recibieron quimioterapia adyuvante con Cisplatino, Etopósido y Bleomicina. Durante un periodo de seguimiento promedio de 19 meses (2-36) ninguno de los pacientes ha presentado recidiva. Conclusión: La Linfadenectomía Lumboaórtica por vía Laparoscópica ha demostrado ser una excelente herramienta de estadificación, la cual ofrece una alternativa mínimamente invasiva a la cirugía convencional abierta. Los resultados de la serie, durante el periodo de seguimiento, demuestran su equivalencia oncológica a la cirugía abierta, sumándose los beneficios de la técnica laparoscópica que incluyen, una menor morbilidad y una mejoría tanto en la visualización intraoperatoria, resultado estético como en la calidad de vida del paciente.

To report the morbidity and oncological results of laparoscopic lumbo-aortic lymph-node dissection (LLA lap) in clinical stage I non-seminomatous testicular germ cell tumors (TCGNS), operated at the Hospital Ramón Barros Luco Trudeau.Patients and Methods: Between October 2005 and August 2008, 29 patients with stage I TCGNS, underwent LLA lap. No patient selection was made in relation to the pathological findings or the presence of risk factors. Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy was performed by the same surgeon within the limits described by Weissbach and Boedefeld. Results: The procedure was completed in its entirety with laparoscopic procedure. The average blood loss was 27.7 cc (5-250). There was no blood tranfusion. The average operative time was 170 min (150-240). The average number of lymph nodes resected was 12.8 (4-25). The hospitalization time was 2 days. There was an intraoperative vascular complication, which satisfactorily manage without conversion to open surgery. Antegrade ejaculation was preserved in all patients. 4 patients (13.8 percent) had pathological stage II received adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin. During an average follow-up period of 19 months (2-36) none of the patients presented recurrence. Conclusion: The laparoscopic lumbo-aortic lymph-node dissection has proven to be an excellent staging tool, which offers a minimally invasive alternative to conventional open surgery. The results of the series during the follow-up period, demonstrate oncological equivalence to open surgery, adding the benefits of laparoscopic technique including a lower morbidity and an improvement in intraoperative visualization, aesthetic result and the quality of patient’s life.